Canon Fronsac

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Accessory grape varieties

Terroir

• The geographical zone is located on the right bank of the Dordogne at its confluence with the Isle, enclosed within the south-western part of the Fronsac appellation area, across the communes of Saint-Michel-de-Fronsac and Fronsac.
• The temperate oceanic climate features moderate temperature ranges but remains unpredictable, with some years bringing rainy autumn depressions and others warm, sunny late seasons, creating a pronounced vintage effect.
• The fairly steep slopes and the proximity of the Dordogne and Isle rivers protect the vines from frost and cold-air pooling, with a relief marked by rocky promontories, of which the tertre de Canon reaches 61 metres.
• Three Tertiary-age formations succeed one another from the valley floor to the plateau: the molasse of the Fronsadais in the Dordogne valley, the Calcaire de Castillon forming a wooded escarpment, and the Calcaire à Astéries covered by sandy-clay or gravelly colluvial deposits.
• The vineyard is planted on the molasse slopes, where calcareous brown soils have formed, and in the very great majority on the Calcaire à Astéries plateau, where clay-limestone or clay-sand soils have developed.

• In the eighteenth century, merchants from Libourne replaced the old, haphazardly planted vines with carefully selected grape varieties and introduced the ageing of wines, revolutionising local viticulture.
• The appellation was recognised by decree of 1 July 1939 under the name 'Côtes de Canon Fronsac', a name simplified to canon-fronsac by the decree of 28 July 1964.

• The wines display an intense red colour tinged with purple or ruby, with a powerful nose marked by notes of red fruits such as blackberry, cherry, or blackcurrant.
• With age, the bouquet may evolve towards nuances that are sometimes truffle-like, sometimes gamey or spiced, depending on the soil type.
• The must must reach a sugar content exceeding 198 grams per litre for Merlot and 180 grams per litre for the other grape varieties. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)

• The plots are situated on permeable limestone plateaux that allow for easy drainage, or on molasse slopes whose gradient facilitates water run-off, enabling optimal expression of the local grape varieties, in particular Merlot.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the source.

All appellations in France

Sources

• Product specification (BO Agri, PDF) — approved 10 décembre 2024, JORF 12 décembre 2024
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry
• Official trade body site — Syndicat Viticole de Fronsac